“I’ve never been compared to somebody’s grandmother before.”
“Glad I could be the one to take your grandmother virginity,” Sophia said.
“That sounds… Don’t ever say that, okay?”
She laughed. “Seriously though, why are you typing like that?”
“Because I suck at typing. It was an elective in high school, but I never thought I’d use it, so I took things like transportation technology and art and stuff like that. Add it to the list of poor choices I’ve made in my life.”
Sophia laughed again, scooted closer, and leaned down to look at my notebook. “Who wrote this?”
Strange question. “Me.”
“Do you speak whatever language this is in, because I’m pretty sure it’d be easier to decipher cave drawings than read your handwriting.”
“I’m starting to think the same thing. I’ve been at this for hours, and I’ve barely made a dent in it.”
She was still looking at the paper, bringing her face closer to the page and then away again like she was trying to focus a camera lens so the image wasn’t blurry.
“I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone who’s handwritten a paper before they typed it.”
I knew she was teasing me, but the truth was, I wasn’t the typical student in more ways than one, and I seemed to be constantly reminded of it. The only thing I could do was keep plugging away however I knew how and hope for the best.
“Scooch over,” she said, patting my arm as she studied the notebook and screen.
“What? Why?”
“Because watching you try to type might be more painful for me than it is for you.”
I shifted over into the next seat. “I highly doubt that.”
“Does this say ‘blood’?” She pointed to a word that even took me longer than it should have to decipher.
“‘Greed.’ I think.”
“You think?”
“It’s a business paper. Greed definitely makes more sense than blood.”
She finished out the sentence and then handed me the notebook. “I’ll type this for you, but you’re going to have to dictate it for me if you want me to finish it before the semester’s over.”
My eyes had to have shown my relief. “Seriously? That’d be awesome! This would’ve taken me all night. You’re the best!”
Without giving it a second thought, I reached over and wrapped Sophia up in a huge hug. Then, when I evidently didn’t think that was enough, I kissed her on the cheek.
“Aww, that’s sweet,” I heard someone say from behind us.
I turned to see Emma walking toward us with Gina and a girl I didn’t recognize. Her large front teeth were gleaming with a smile so wide, she reminded me of a beaver who’d just eaten a bag of shrooms.
“You guys are so cute,” Emma said. “My brother would never kiss me in public.”
“Well, I wish mine wouldn’t either,” Sophia said through gritted teeth.
“Ignore her. She likes to pretend she’s not related to me,” I explained. I wasn’t sure why I liked getting under her skin so much, but there was a certain thrill to it.
She rolled her eyes and sighed, probably knowing I’d just continue if she responded.
The other three girls laughed.
“Sorry, I’m Sophia’s brother,” I said to the new girl. “Brody,” I added almost as an afterthought. It still felt strange to say the name aloud or respond to it, and I figured no amount of practice would change that.
“Macy.” She extended her hand to me with a smile as she shifted her books from one arm to the other. “Sophia didn’t tell me she had a brother.”
This seemed to be a common theme.
“Are you older or younger?” she asked.
“Older. I’m a senior,” I said proudly.
“A second-year senior,” Sophia said.
Macy didn’t even seem to realize Sophia had spoken. Her brown eyes were still on me, and I’d noticed her hand was still in mine.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had such a cute big brother?” Macy asked, but she hadn’t bothered to divert her attention from me.
“Because he’s her big gay brother,” Emma said. “None of us has a shot with him.”
This was going to be a long-ass year if people kept bringing this shit up. Couldn’t she have at least made me bi?
“Right,” I said sadly. “I’m gay. Super gay.”
None of the girls responded, and the silence was awkward…until Sophia said, “You should wear a rainbow cape with a giant G.”
Maybe after all this was over, I’d have her make me one. I’d certainly earned it.
S O P H I A
Once Emma, Gina, and Macy had left, I went back to typing Drew’s paper. Or Brody’s paper. Whatever.
“Are we allowed to eat in here?” he asked.
“They’ve never said anything to me. I usually bring something if I plan to be here for a while.”
“Okay, good. I’m starving.” He dug through his bag and pulled out a cardboard box with two slices of cold pizza in it.
“Are you serious?”
He took a bite and asked through a mouthful, “Want some?”
I shook my head slowly. “How long have you had that in there?”
He shrugged. “A few days.” When my eyes widened, he said, “I’m kidding. I threw it in my bag right before I came here. I had an ice pack in there with it.”
“Don’t you ever get sick of pizza?” I’d noticed he’d eaten it almost every day this week. Sometimes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the same day.
“Nope. Not Marco’s. Have you tried it?”
“No, but they should give you some kind of discount with the amount of money you spend in that place.”
He swallowed his bite and laughed. “Or a job. They offered me one the other day because I already know everyone who works there and most of their menu.”
“That’s…” I didn’t exactly know what to call it, so I went with “impressive,” though that sounded more complimentary than what I’d been going for.
“Thanks. So is that Macy girl in your sorority?”
“Yes.” I typed a few more sentences. “You can’t hit on her.”
“I wasn’t asking because I was interested in her. Just wondering if she’s Aamee’s friend or yours.”
“Aamee doesn’t have friends. She has minions who follow her around like a bunch of ducklings scared to cross a street alone.”
“Interesting.”
“Interesting?” I stopped typing and turned to him. “Did you forget you’re supposed to be dictating your paper to me?”
“Sorry. I got sidetracked.”
“By what?”
“I was thinking about how to get Aamee back. Have you come up with anything? Asked any of the other girls in the house?”
There was no getting back at her, at least not that I could think of. I didn’t have a house I could kick her out of, so as far as I was concerned, I’d just have to sit this out until next year, when I could move back in.